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狁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狁yǔnbarbarians; a tribe of Scythian nomadsx, 7 strokes, radical 犭
狁yǔnname of a tribeunknown, 7 strokes, radical 犭
yǔn(yun3)yun T3
  1. 1barbarians; a tribe of Scythian nomads
  2. 2name of a tribe
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March 24, 2026

狁yǔn(yun3)

The character 狁 (yǔn) refers to a historical tribe of Scythian nomads often associated with barbarian cultures. In ancient Chinese texts, it is used to describe groups that were considered outsiders or non-Sinic peoples, reflecting the complex interactions between nomadic tribes and settled civilizations.

Strokes7Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese history, the term for 'barbarians' often reflected a worldview that distinguished between the Han Chinese and various nomadic tribes, showcasing the dynamic relationships in ancient China between different cultures.

Memory tip

Imagine a fierce nomadic tribe (the 'yǔn') riding on horseback, their wild hair flowing in the wind, as they traverse the vast steppes. The left radical '犭' (dog) suggests ferocity, while '云' (cloud) hints at their nomadic nature, like clouds drifting across the sky.

Meanings of 狁

yǔn(yun3)
1barbarians; a tribe of Scythian nomads
2name of a tribe
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 狁

狁Simplified
7Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狁

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Podcast: 狁

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AI Study Notes for 狁

Usage Notes

This character is quite specific and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in historical or literary contexts. Learners should note that 'yǔn' is not frequently combined with other words, and its tone must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Since 狁 is not included in the HSK levels, learners should focus on understanding its historical context and how it relates to discussions of ancient tribes and cultures. Familiarizing oneself with related terms about nomadic lifestyles could be beneficial.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 狁 with similar characters, such as 狼 (láng), which means 'wolf'. It's important to remember that 狁 specifically refers to a historical tribe and not a general term for animals or other concepts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狁

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Etymology of 狁

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

animal

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)允
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

狁 = 犭 + 允. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 狁

IDS Structure⿰犭允
狁Full character
=
犭quan3
left
允yun3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 狁?

How to say barbarians; a tribe of Scythian nomads in Chinese

“barbarians; a tribe of Scythian nomads” in Chinese is狁yǔn

The character 狁 (yǔn) refers to a historical tribe of Scythian nomads often associated with barbarian cultures. In ancient Chinese texts, it is used to describe groups that were considered outsiders or non-Sinic peoples, reflecting the complex interactions between nomadic tribes and settled civilizations.

When to use 狁

This character is quite specific and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in historical or literary contexts. Learners should note that 'yǔn' is not frequently combined with other words, and its tone must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 狁 with similar characters, such as 狼 (láng), which means 'wolf'. It's important to remember that 狁 specifically refers to a historical tribe and not a general term for animals or other concepts.

Write 狁

狁

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Word Family of 狁

Words containing this character1
狁yǔnname of a tribe

Frequently Asked Questions about 狁

In modern usage, 狁 is primarily of historical interest, referring to ancient tribes rather than a term used in contemporary language.

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